How Many Tribes of Israel? How Many Tribes of Israel? by Charles Voss I have been asked, “Why do you say there are thirteen tribes of Israel when everybody knows there are only twelve”? The answer is that it depends on whether a person is referring to the actual number of tribes, or the number of tribes that received a land inheritance, or the number mentioned in the NT book of Revelation. To see it fully we will look at the Aid to Bible Understanding: “The tribal arrangement in Israel was based on descent from the twelve sons of Jacob (Gen 29:32-30:24; 35:16-18). These “twelve patriarchal families" produced the “twelve tribes of Israel” (Gen 49:1-28). However, Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh the older and Ephraim the younger, and said: “Ephraim and Manasseh will become mine like [his actual sons] Reuben and Simeon” (Gen. 48:5, 13-20). When the various tribes received their land inheritance in the Promised Land (Josh. chaps.

13-19), there was no “tribe of Joseph.” Instead, “the sons of Joseph,” Manasseh and Ephraim were counted as distinct tribes in Israel, thus giving thirteen tribes. “However, as ETERNAL had arranged this did not increase the tribes of Israel receiving an inheritance to thirteen, because the Levites got no land inheritance. ETERNAL had chosen the “tribe of Levi” (Num 1:49) in place of the firstborn of the other tribes and they became the priestly tribe (Ex 13:1-2; Num 3:6-13-41; Deut 10:8-9; 18:1). “When Moses blessed the tribes (Deut 33:6-24) Simeon was not mentioned by name, perhaps because the tribe was greatly reduced in size and its land portion was to be enclosed in the territory of Judah. However, in Ezekiel’s vision of the "holy contribution" and the twelve tribes, the tribes listed are the same as those who received a land inheritance as given in the book of Joshua (Ezek 48:1-8, 23-28).

The tribe of Levi was located within the “holy contribution” in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 48:9-14, 22.)” [1] When the tribe of Joseph is mentioned, Ephraim is usually mentioned immediately following. This shows that the name Ephraim was given preference. Thus, the phrase “The House of Ephraim” is frequently used to refer to the “House of Israel.” Notice in this series of verses Joseph and Ephraim are mentioned together whereas Manasseh is listed separately: Num 1:32-33 “Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war.

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred: Num 1:34 “Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war.

Another point is that Ephraim is linked with his father Joseph, whereas Manasseh is linked with his grandfather Jacob: Num 1:10 “Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim (#H669); Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh (#H4519); Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.” The English word “Ephraim” comes from the Hebrew word “'Ephrayim;” Strong’s (#H669) states that it means “double fruit; Ephraim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.” Whereas the English word Manasseh comes from the Hebrew word “Menashsheh;” Strong’s (#H4519) states that it means “causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descending from him, and its territory. Thus it is abundantly clear that Joseph was replaced by his two sons thus there are thirteen tribes and not twelve.

The names of the thirteen tribes are stated in Numbers as Moses was taking a census of all that were able to go to war: Num 1:21-45 “Reuben (the oldest son of Jacob) Simeon, Gad, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim (son of Joseph), Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Num 1:47,50 “This total does not include the Levites, for ETERNAL had said to Moses, ‘ Exempt the entire tribe of Levi from the draft, and do not include their number in the census. ...For the Levites are assigned for the work connected with the Tabernacle and its transportation.’” The number and names of the tribes in the book of Numbers differ from the verses throughout the New Testament and especially the book of Revelation where it is staunchly stated that there are only twelve. Moreover, in Revelations the Levites are counted among them with the tribe of Dan totally left out.

One can only speculate as to why this difference and why there are twelve NT disciples and twelve gates mentioned in Revelation: 1) Maybe it is because the number thirteen is not divisible by four without a fractional answer. 2) Maybe it has to do with the twelve signs of the Zodiac since the wise men were astrologers and the worship of the sun god. Note from Scofield’s Notes for Mat 2:1: "Wise men" is from the Greek <magoi> a Persian word for men expert in the study of the stars. There is no evidence that these magi were only three in number or that they were kings. Their interest aroused by the star that signalized [the] birth.” Since they were astrologers from the pagan countries to the East, they knew, believed in, and worshipped the sun god. They understood the twelve signs of the zodiac based on sun worship and the NT is about this subject. Here is riddle for you, “Matthew (2:1-2) states the ‘ wise men’ were from the EAST [of Jerusalem] and they saw the heralding star in the sky to their EAST”. So how did they follow it WEST to Jerusalem?

Hmmm, maybe they were the first to circumvent the globe on camels. Not only that, but they did it in under two years, since it is said that Herod killed all the babies under age two. But regardless of your arguments and whether you ‘ Believe it or Not’ there were thirteen actual tribes of Israel back then, and the same number of tribes are with us today. How Many Tribes Are There, Really? - Gracethrufaith Home » Ask a Bible Teacher » How Many Tribes Are There, Really? How Many Tribes Are There, Really? Saturday, November 16th, 2013 Old Testament Q. I have always been a little confused concerning the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob had 12 sons, which became the 12 tribes. When land was given to the tribes, Levi received no land, and the 2 sons of Joseph were each given land making them 2 independent tribes. That makes 13 total. After King Solomon’s death, God separated the nation.

In 1 Kings, it says that God separated the nation into the northern 10 tribes (counting Joseph’s sons as separate tribes) and the tribe of Judah (10+1=11 tribes). Assuming the Levi was not included in this count because they received no land, that makes 12 tribes accounted for, but, since in the 10 northern tribes Joseph’s sons are counted as separate tribes, there should be a total of 13. The missing tribe appears to be Simeon, which was completely surrounded by the tribe of Judah. Can you explain why the tribes were counted like this? A. It’s confusing because after Jacob adopted Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:5-6), there were fourteen names to choose from. But the Bible never lists more than 12 at a time, so sometimes the mix is different. The Levites received no land and never went to war, so they’re often omitted. Joseph was also left out when Ephraim and Manasseh were included, since the land they received was really Joseph’s inheritance.

The strangest list is in Revelation 7 where Levi and Joseph are included but Dan and Ephraim are not. Another confusing fact is that the Northern Kingdom retained the name of Israel while the Southern Kingdom was called Judah, which became Judea in the New Testament. But as you pointed out there were actually two tribes in the Southern Kingdom; Judah and Simeon. So the Northern Kingdom counted Ephraim and Manasseh among the 10 tribes, but not Joseph. And the Southern Kingdom included Judah and Simeon. Ten plus two equals 12. Add Joseph and Levi, who were not included on either list, and you have all 14 names. Related posts: Get our latest updates delivered to your email inbox for free. Email Address* The 12 Tribes of Israel - Life, Hope & Truth Joseph (often listed as two tribes named for his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh). Benjamin. Let’s look at what the Bible tells us about the history and the future of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob God promised Abraham that his descendants would be numerous ( Genesis 13:16 ; 17:2 ; 22:17 ) and that his descendants would eventually constitute “many nations” ( Genesis 17:4-5 ). He also promised Abraham that his descendants would “possess the gate of their enemies” ( Genesis 22:17 ) and be “blessed” mightily by God (verses 16-18). God also said that his descendants would be identified throughout history by the name of Abraham’s son, “Isaac” ( Genesis 21:12 ). The blessings given to Abraham and Isaac were called the “birthright” blessings because they were passed on to successive generations as a right of their birth. The “birthright” blessings given to Abraham were passed on to Isaac, who married Rebekah. Millions of people would descend from Isaac and Rebekah over time. In fact, they would number in the billions throughout the generations of humanity on the earth.

The blessing of numerous descendants who would possess the gates of their enemies was a continuation of the blessing God had promised Abraham that He would fulfill in Isaac ( Genesis 17:17-19, 21 ). However, Abraham had a previous son, Ishmael, by Hagar, and Ishmael’s descendants were also prophesied to become numerous and constitute a “great nation” that would feature “twelve princes” (verse 20). The “great nation” of Ishmael’s descendants today is the Arab world. The Arabs know that they are descended from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. If the descendants of Ishmael constitute the Arabs, the peoples who make up most of the nations in the modern Middle East, then which nations descended from Isaac? If the Bible is true, Isaac’s descendants should constitute nations more numerous, prosperous and powerful than the Arabs. The Bible is God’s truth ( John 17:17 )! Obviously, Isaac’s descendants in the modern world must consist of far more than just the Jews. Genesis 24:60 prophesied that Isaac’s descendants would number in the multiple millions over time.

Isaac passed his “birthright” blessings on to his son, Jacob, even though the oldest son, Esau, would normally have received them. Genesis 25:30-34 informs us that Esau “sold” his birthright to Jacob for some red stew. Then when their father, Isaac, officially passed on the birthright, Jacob deceived his father into believing he was his brother. In essence, Jacob “stole” the birthright through deception (Genesis 27). One of the blessings Jacob received from Isaac was that other nations would bow down to the nations that would descend from Jacob ( Genesis 27:29 ). Clearly, for this prophecy to be fulfilled, Jacob’s descendants would have to become great nations and empires. This same blessing also promised that God would bless the nations that blessed Jacob’s descendants and would curse the nations that cursed Jacob’s descendants. God reiterated Abraham’s blessings to Jacob in Genesis 28:10-15 by saying Jacob’s descendants would be as numerous as “the dust of the earth” and they would eventually spread to all four corners of the earth from the region of the Promised Land.

Jacob’s name was later changed to “Israel” ( Genesis 32:28 ), and he had 12 sons who became the “12 tribes of Israel.” The 12 tribes of Israel established Before Jacob (Israel) died, he passed on the “birthright blessings” to his grandsons, who were named Ephraim and Manasseh. Israel gave prophetic blessings that were to be fulfilled in a time called “the last days” to all 12 of his sons ( Genesis 49:1 ). In Genesis 48:16, Israel blessed both Ephraim and Manasseh simultaneously with the words “let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Israel decreed that his own name, “Israel,” and the name of his own father, “Isaac,” would be placed upon the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, who were to each become a distinct tribe among Israel’s sons ( Genesis 48:5 ). In doing this, Israel was giving Joseph a “double portion” among the 12 tribes of Israel.

Israel foretold in Genesis 48:19 that while the descendants of Manasseh would become a “great” people (or nation), the descendants of Ephraim would become a “multitude of nations.” Since Joseph was expanded into two tribes, this meant that there would now be 13 tribes of Israel, although they were often still known as “the 12 tribes of Israel” because the priestly tribe, the Levites, did not receive a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. In the blessings recorded in Genesis 49, Israel gave prophecies for each of the tribes named after his 12 sons. The 12 sons of Israel are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin. The tribe most recognized by modern readers is Judah. Judah’s descendants have long been called “Jews.” However, Judah is just one of the sons of Israel. The vast majority of Israel’s descendants came from the other sons who were not called Jews.

The rise and fall of the 12 tribes of Israel When the 12 tribes of Israel entered the Promised Land, they eventually formed the nation of Israel under David and Solomon. Soon after Solomon’s death, this empire was torn apart by a great civil war. The northern 10 tribes formed the kingdom of Israel, while the southern two tribes, Judah and Benjamin (joined by the priestly tribe of Levi), formed the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel was called “Israel” because it was led by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who bore the name of “Israel” ( Genesis 48:16 ). The southern kingdom was led by the tribe of Judah. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah became enemies and often fought bloody wars. Though they have not reunited, they are prophesied to do so in the future. See “ Israel and Judah: When Will They Be Reunited ?” The northern kingdom of Israel went into captivity in 722 B.C. because of sin and rebellion toward God. Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians between 604 and 586 B.C.

Just before the fall of Israel, the prophet Amos noted that the northern 10 tribes were known by the name “house of Isaac” ( Amos 7:16 )—just as the prophecies of Genesis 21:12 and 48:16 had predicted. The name of “Isaac” followed the 10 tribes wherever they went in their exile and later migrations. In Jeremiah 51:5 , we find a prophecy, given over a century after the 10 tribes went into captivity, that they would not be forsaken by God. Though sometimes called the “10 Lost Tribes of Israel,” these peoples are not lost to God or to students of the Bible who understand how to trace their history. To understand who some of these peoples are today, see “ 12 Tribes of Israel Today: Who Are They ?” and “ Who Are the United States and Britain in Prophecy ?” Modern significance of the 12 tribes of Israel The 12 tribes of Israel eventually grew into great nations and empires just as God had predicted. Identifying these nations today helps us understand what will occur before Christ’s return.

Some people mistakenly think that, since the establishment of the New Testament Church, the identities of these people no longer serve any purpose. The truth is that God has many more plans for the peoples who have descended from the 12 tribes of Israel after Christ returns. For additional information, be sure to read the related articles on this site. What are the twelve tribes of Israel? What are the twelve tribes of Israel? Subscribe to our Question of the Week : Question: "What are the twelve tribes of Israel?" Answer: The twelve tribes of Israel came from the twelve sons of Israel. “Israel” is the name that God gave Jacob (Genesis 32:28). His twelve sons are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin (Genesis 35:23-26; Exodus 1:1–4; 1 Chronicles 2:1–2). When the tribes inherited the Promised Land, Levi’s descendants did not receive a territory for themselves (Joshua 13:14). Instead, they became priests and had several cities scattered throughout all of Israel.

Joseph’s tribe was divided in two—Jacob had adopted Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, essentially giving Joseph a double portion for his faithfulness in saving the family from famine (Genesis 47:11–12). This means the tribes who received territory in the Promised Land were Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. In some places in Scripture, the tribe of Ephraim is referred to as the tribe of Joseph (Numbers 1:32–33). After King Solomon died, Israel split into two kingdoms. Judah, to the south, included Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The other tribes combined to make the kingdom of Israel in the north. Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians, and most of the Israelites were either killed or deported; the Israelites who remained most likely integrated with the kingdom of Judah. Jesus was from Judah, Paul was from Benjamin, and John the Baptist was a Levite, but, since the diaspora in A.D.

70, identifying the tribe of a modern Jew is a little more difficult. That doesn't mean that the tribal divisions are irrelevant. During the tribulation , when most of the world has abandoned God and is following the Antichrist , 144,000 Jews will be sealed by God. This number comprises 12,000 from each tribe. So, even if we don’t know who is in what tribe, God has kept track. The tribes are listed again in Revelation 7:5-8, but they are not the same tribes that were given land in Joshua. Manasseh is there, and Ephraim (under Joseph’s name). But instead of Dan, Levi is included. No explanation is given as to why. The 12 Tribes of Israel - Biblical Definition The 12 Tribes of Israel The 12 Tribes of Israel What Were the 12 Tribes of Israel? 12 Tribes of Israel Mosaic. Public Domain By Jack Zavada The 12 tribes of Israel both divided and unified the ancient nation of the Hebrew people.

The tribes came from Jacob , the grandson of Abraham , to whom God promised the title "father of many nations" ( Genesis 17:4-5 ). God renamed Jacob "Israel" and favored him with 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph , and Benjamin. Each son became the patriarch or leader of a tribe that bore his name. When God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they camped together in the desert, each tribe gathered in its own smaller camp. After they built the desert tabernacle under God's command, the tribes camped around it to remind them God was their king and protector. Finally the Israelites entered the Promised Land , but they had to drive out the pagan tribes who already lived there. Even though they were divided into 12 tribes, the Israelites recognized they were one unified people under God. When the time came to assign sections of the land, it was done by tribes . However, God had decreed that the tribe of Levi was to be priests .

They did not get a portion of the land but were to serve God at the tabernacle and later the temple. In Egypt, Jacob had adopted his two grandsons by Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. Instead of a portion for Joseph's tribe, Ephraim's and Manasseh's tribes each got a portion of land. The number 12 represents perfection, as well as God's authority. It stands for a solid foundation for government and completeness. Symbolic references to the 12 tribes of Israel abound throughout the Bible. Moses built an altar with 12 pillars, representing the tribes ( Exodus 24:4 ). There were 12 stones on the high priest's ephod, or holy vest, each representing one tribe. Joshua set up a memorial of 12 stones after the people crossed the Jordan River. When King Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem, a huge washing bowl called the Sea sat on 12 bronze bulls, and 12 bronze lions guarded the steps. The prophet Elijah built an altar of 12 stones on Mount Carmel .

Jesus Christ , who came from the tribe of Judah, chose 12 apostles , signifying that he was ushering in a new Israel, the Church . After feeding the five thousand , the apostles picked up 12 baskets of leftover food: Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." ( Matthew 19:28, NIV ) In the prophetic book of Revelation , an angel shows John the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven: It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Revelation 21:12, NIV) Over the centuries, the 12 tribes of Israel fell apart by marrying foreigners but mainly through the conquests of hostile invaders. The Assyrians overran part of the kingdom, then in 586 B.C. the Babylonians attacked, carrying thousands of Israelites into captivity in Babylon.

After that, the Greek empire of Alexander the Great took over, followed by the Roman empire, which destroyed the temple in 70 A.D., dispersing most of the Jewish population throughout the world. Bible References to the 12 Tribes of Israel: Genesis 49:28; Exodus 24:4, 28:21, 39:14; Ezekiel 47:13; Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; Acts 26:7; James 1:1; Revelation 21:12. Also Know As: Example: The 12 tribes of Israel often quarreled and fought with one another. (Sources: biblestudy.org , gotquestions.org , The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, general editor; Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words, Eugene E. Carpenter and Phillip W. Comfort; Smith's Bible Dictionary, William Smith.) Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives.

His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page . How Many Tribes Were There in Israel? | A Bible A Day A Bible A Day Exploring the Biblical Narrative with Peter DeHaan Search How Many Tribes Were There in Israel? Posted on by Peter DeHaan Just as we know that Jesus had twelve disciples, we know that Israel had twelve tribes, right? Jacob (also known as Israel) had twelve sons and each son became a tribe, right? Well sort of. Even though Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, there is no tribe named Joseph. Instead Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, both became tribes. So that ups the number of tribes to thirteen. To make things a tad more confusing, the tribe of Manasseh split into two groups, with half receiving territory on one side of the Jordan River and the rest on the other side. Effectively, each half of Manasseh became a tribe. So the number of tribes arguably becomes fourteen. However, Levi, while a tribe, did not receive a territory (they were assigned cities to live in throughout the nation). So Levi is a tribe without territory. Should we count them or not?

We can go crazy trying to sort this out. Just as with the question of “ How many disciples did Jesus have? ” we can best resolve this by understanding that “The Twelve Tribes” was a label, a generic reference, and not a quantifiable amount. Jesus had “twelve” disciples, symbolically matching the “twelve” tribes of Israel. The fact that the actual number of tribes and disciples may have been thirteen or even fourteen doesn’t matter; the parallelism of “twelve” connects the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and links the nation of Israel with the salvation of Jesus. Share this: 12 Tribes of Israel Site map 12 Tribes of Israel About 4000 years ago, a man named Jacob (whose name was changed to "Israel") had 12 sons who later became the ancestors of the Tribes of Israel. At different times, for various reasons, the Bible will list the 12 Tribes of Israel but will include exclude two of Jacob's sons and replace them with two sons of Joseph (who was one of Jacob's sons). Below are the links to the profiles of Jacob's 12 sons, as well as to Joseph's two sons.

Go to: Women in the Bible Bible prophecies sorted by theme Destruction of Israel Exile of Israel Dispersion of Israel Persecution of Israel Re-gathering of Israel Nationhood (Israel) Preservation of Israel Worldwide impact Messianic About other nations End Times Bible prophecies sorted by prophet Abraham's prophecies Amos' prophecies Daniel's prophecies Ezekiel's prophecies Isaiah's prophecies Jacob's prophecies Jeremiah's prophecies Jesus' prophecies Micah's prophecies Moses' prophecies Nahum's prophecies Zechariah's prophecies Glossaries of people, events People in the Bible Women in the Bible Places in the Bible Bible glossary History of Israel Miracles of Jesus Life and teachings of Jesus Christ Early life 1st year of ministry 2nd year of ministry 3rd year of ministry The final months Persecution of Jesus Resurrection of Jesus Articles, answers, explanations, links Revelations Revealed - 13 Tribes of Israel 13 Tribes of Israel ● a surprising and previously unknown fact, esp.

one that is made known in a dramatic way ● the making known of something that was previously secret or unknown ● used to emphasize the surprising or remarkable quality of someone or something Revelations Revealed - Revealing Revelations of what the Bible actually says as a whole; and not pulled from context. I got into a short discussion about the tribes of Israel. I stated there were 13 tribes listed in the Old Testament but only 12 in the book of Revelations. I decided to send this message out to the whole mailing list because of the education value and I believe it will be of great interest to many. The fact that there were 13 tribes of Israel is vastly overlooked because Jacob had 12 sons. Joseph was separated from his brothers when they sold him as a slave in Egypt. When Joseph had two boys, Ephraim and Manasseh there in Egypt, Jacob said that instead of Joseph, his two sons will be counted among the 12 tribes; and Levi was not given an inheritance because they were a nation of Priests for all 12. So in reality, there was really 13 tribes.

The 13 tribes are listed in Numbers 1 starting in verse 20; and are: Reuben Naphtali and then Levi (verse 47) The tribes of the Old Testament was a type of shadow of what was to come in the New Testament. How many people were there at the last supper? 13. The twelve tribes represented by the 12 disciples and Christ representing Levi who were the priest’s. Now Judas later committed suicide which brought the number back to 12. Then when you go to Acts chapter 1, before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; Peter said we need to replace this position. It was an office that Jesus had established among the Apostles. Judas killed himself, and so they chose somebody. They cast lots between two characters, and Matthias was chosen. They chose somebody to fill the vacancy to bring the number from 11 back up to 12 Apostles, then the Holy Spirit was poured out which was 13 again. I believe the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the last days will be when the 144,000 are prepared. Missing from Revelations is Dan and Ephraim. Instead, Levi and Joseph are listed.

One of the verses in the Old Testament tells us when Jacob was blessing his children, “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way and a viper by the path that bites the horses heels so that its rider shall fall backward.” And regarding Ephraim, the Bible says, “Ephraim is joined unto idols. Let her alone.” The 144,000 are sealed at the beginning therefore they are judged early. Dan means judgment and for the 144,000 judgment has passed; so it included the names of Joseph instead of Ephraim, and Levi instead of Dan. I believe that when you look at Revelation, it’s telling us that these names are spiritual symbols. Jesus Himself said that many will come from the East and the West and sit down in the Kingdom with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the children of the Kingdom (the literal children) are cast out.

John the Baptist said to the Jews who came to hear his preaching, ‘I’m able to raise up children unto Abraham from these stones.’ And again, Paul says, ‘he that is in Christ, he is Abraham’s seed.’ Remember, Jew is a religion (one who believes in the God of Abraham) not a people; this is why a Gentile could become a Jew in the Old Testament and we are grafted in under the new covenant in the New Testament. And so, of the 144,000, 10 of these tribes were carried away captive by the Assyrians. They inter-married with their captors and basically disappeared as a distinct people. The ones who came back from Babylon were from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. The name “Jew” is derived from the tribe of Judah The majority of the 10 tribes had ceased to exist as a people. You cannot find 12,000 people from the tribe of Zebulun. You cannot find 12,000 literal people from the tribe of Issachar. They don’t exist as a pure blood.

So the idea that God is going to raise up 12,000 pure blood Jews from these 12 tribes is really absurd if you read the whole Old Testament. They are Spiritual Jews. Now I do believe we still have a work to do among literal Jews; and that is there in Romans. But I believe many of the prophecies and promises regarding Israel in the New Testament are talking about Spiritual Israel; those who are grafted in. Another passage that I look at for the spiritual Jews is in Matthew 19, when Jesus told His disciples that they would sit on the twelve thrones and judge the tribes of Israel. Now we know that the tribes of Israel are not the only people who are going to be judged; therefore Jesus was referring to the twelve spiritual tribes of Israel. The way I read it, Jesus made a covenant only with the house of Israel and He tells His disciples that they will be judging the tribes of Israel. If Jesus was only talking physical then all of us Gentile would be out of luck; but I don’t believe that God is racist in any way. Thank you for the discussion. God Bless Wayne Bible Food for Hungry Christians 12.

Benjamin Gen 49:28 States - "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel"... "Israel", here in Gen 49:28, is not the "Nation of Israel", but the "man" Israel, the son of Abraham and Isaac. Remember, God renamed Jacob, in Genesis 32:28, "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed". "Israel" means "Prince of God". The original Twelve Tribes, which are listed in Genesis chapter 49, are named for the twelve sons of Jacob, who was renamed "Israel". From Gen. chapter 49, through the end of the Book of Exodus, these are the names of the "Twelve Tribes of Israel". Then, in Numbers 1:1-50, we see a big change! God assigned the priestly duties of the Temple worship to the Tribe of Levi, and being the "priestly tribe", Levi was no longer counted in the "Twelve Tribes".

With Levi being removed from the "Twelve", the Tribe of "Joseph" was given a "double portion", (Jacob loved Joseph the best, Gen. 37:3) and Joseph, was split into the tribes of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. So, the names of Levi and Joseph were dropped from the "twelve Tribes", and Ephraim and Manasseh replaced them. The "12 tribes of Israel", from the Book of Numbers, all the way to the Second Advent of Christ, drop Levi and Joseph, and list Ephraim and Manasseh. We find the new arrangement of the 12 Tribes in Numb. 2:1-29: 1. Judah 11. Asher 12. Naphtali These are the commonly known names of the "twelve Tribes of Israel", and the ones we find in the vast majority of the Scriptures. But, at the Second Advent of Christ, we find the twelve original Tribes listed again.

In Ezekiel 40:46, 43:19, 44:15, and 48:11, we see that the Tribe of Levi will be relegated to the menial tasks of the Millennial Temple, because of their great sin during the time of the Kings. The sons of Zadok will be assigned the priestly duties in the Millennial Temple. Under this new order of the Priesthood, we see in Eze 48:31-34, that "the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali".

The names of the twelve Tribes of Israel on the gates to the Millennial city are back to the original twelve, as listed in Gen 49:1-28! To add to the confusion, in Eze 47:13, the Millennial land of Israel will be divided into twelve areas "according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions". So, in the division of the land, Levi and Joseph are replaced by Ephraim and Manasseh, but the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel on the four gates to the city are the original twelve tribes of Genesis 49:1-28! So, there are fourteen Tribes of Israel listed in the Book of Ezekiel!

The last mention of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is in Rev 21:10-12 - 10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:" I take "the children of Israel" here, to mean the twelve sons of the "man" Israel (Jacob). So, I expect to see the names of the original Twelve Tribes, of the "man" Israel, on the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem! Fascinating, isn't it? Your questions are a blessing to me, and I am sure the Scriptures we examine are a blessing to others also.

Yours "in Christ", 12 Tribes of Israel Today - Life, Hope & Truth by David Treybig God made many promises to Abraham and his descendants, but many of his descendants disappeared from history. Where are the 12 tribes of Israel today? The famous Black Obelisk in the British Museum includes a pictorial etching of King Jehu of Israel paying tribute to King Shalmaneser of Assyria. After the Assyrian captivity, where are the 12 tribes of Israel today? When God called Abraham, He promised him that because of his obedience, his descendants would become a great nation and that in him all nations of the earth would be blessed ( Genesis 12:1-3 ). The physical blessings God gave Abraham would continue through his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, also called Israel, whose 12 sons were the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel. There was also a spiritual promise that all nations would be blessed through Jesus Christ, who was a descendant of Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-34). Many have wondered where some of the peoples who came from Abraham went. Who are the 12 tribes of Israel today?

Although the Bible does not specifically name the modern nations representing all of these people, there is biblical, historical and archaeological evidence that make it possible for us to positively identify the United States, Britain and many of the nations of Western Europe as the nations where descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel largely reside today. While this historical knowledge is not critical for salvation, it does help one understand end-time prophecy. Two kingdoms After they spent time as slaves in Egypt, God delivered Abraham’s descendants and allowed them to form the ancient nation of Israel. Over time, 10 of the tribes formed the northern kingdom of Israel and two of the tribes formed the southern kingdom of Judah. Due to their breaking of His laws, God allowed the northern kingdom to be taken captive by the Assyrians and, later, the southern kingdom to be taken by the Babylonians. After 70 years, many of the captives of Judah returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the city. Because of this and their renewed diligence in keeping God’s Sabbath, their history continued. However, the northern 10 tribes largely disappeared from history. As a result, they are sometimes referred to as the lost 10 tribes of Israel.

But while their nation disappeared, the descendants of these people continued to exist. Israel to be sifted among the nations In fact, God had promised that even though He would punish the people of ancient Israel for their sins, He would not completely destroy them. Instead, God said He would preserve them as He scattered them among the nations. Speaking through the prophet Amos, God said: “‘Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,’ says the LORD. ‘For surely I will command, and will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground’” (Amos 9:8-9). God’s faithfulness in blessing the descendants of the ancient Israelites will continue after Christ’s return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

As Jesus explained to His apostles: “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). Even New Jerusalem will have 12 gates named after the 12 tribes of Israel ( Revelation 21:12 ). Josephus, a Jewish historian of the first century, stated that “the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country [Media]; wherefore there are but two tribes [Judah and Benjamin] in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers” (Antiquities of the Jews, 11.5.2, Complete Works of Flavius Josephus, combined translations of William Whiston, 1867, and the Standard Edition, 1960).

The introduction to the book of James says, “To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” which confirms that some in the early New Testament Church knew where at least some of the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel were located. Following the clues To follow the history of the 12 tribes of Israel after the fall of their nation to the Assyrians in 721 B.C., we must recognize the path of their deportation and identify them by the names given them by their conquerors. Various websites and books have a great deal of information connecting the 12 tribes of Israel to the nations of Western Europe and the United States today, and it would be impossible to cover all this material in this answer. But here is some of the documentation. When the Assyrians conquered Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, they transported many of the Israelites “to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” ( 2 Kings 17:6 ). Shortly after the Israelites came into these lands, scholars note the appearance of peoples in this area called Cimmerians and Scythians.

The Assyrians also called them Khumri, Ghomri, Gimiri (derivatives of King Omri of Israel) and Iskuza (derivative of Isaac). The famous Black Obelisk in the British Museum includes a pictorial etching of King Jehu of Israel bowing and paying tribute to King Shalmaneser of Assyria. The text speaks of Jehu, son (really a successor) of Omri, giving the Assyrian king silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff and spears. This was the time during which Israel paid tribute to Assyria as a vassal nation prior to rebelling and being destroyed by Assyria. Historian Tamara Rice writes: “The Scythians did not become a recognizable national entity much before the eighth century B.C. ... By the seventh century B.C. they had established themselves firmly in southern Russia. ... And analogous tribes, possibly even related clans, though politically entirely distinct and independent, were also centred on the Altai [Mountains of southern Russia and Mongolia]. ...

Assyrian documents place their appearance there in the time of King Sargon (722-705 B.C.), a date which closely corresponds with that of the establishment of the first group of Scythians in southern Russia” (The Scythians, 1961, pp. 19-20, 44). Boris Piotrovsky in his book From the Lands of the Scythians notes, “Two groups, Cimmerians and Scythians, seem to be referred to in Urartean and Assyrian texts, but it is not always clear whether the terms indicate two distinct peoples or simply mounted nomads. ... Beginning in the second half of the eighth century B.C., Assyrian sources refer to nomads identified as the Cimmerians; other Assyrian sources say these people were present in the land of the Mannai and in Cappadocia for a hundred years, and record their advances into Asia Minor and Egypt. “The Assyrians used Cimmerians in their army as mercenaries; a legal document of 679 B.C.

refers to an Assyrian ‘commander of the Cimmerian regiment’; but in other Assyrian documents they are called ‘the seed of runaways who know neither vows to the gods nor oaths’” (1975, pp. 15, 18). The Bible likewise indicates that the ancient Israelites would eventually migrate in a northwesterly direction away from Jerusalem. According to a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, God’s Servant will “restore the preserved ones of Israel” (Isaiah 49:6), and these peoples will come from “the north and the west” back to Jerusalem (verse 12). While it is certainly clear that displaced Israelites were among these peoples, we should also note that not all Scythians or Cimmerians were Israelites. “Scythian” does not necessarily refer to a specific ethnic group. But it did include Israelites, who later moved in a northwesterly direction into Europe following their collapse as a nation. Historians link the Cimmerians with the Gauls or Celts of northwest Europe Historian Samuel Lysons linked some of the people who populated northwest Europe with these Cimmerians.

As he put it, the Cimmerians seemed “to be the same people with the Gauls or Celts under a different name” (Our British Ancestors: Who and What Were They? 1865, p. 23). English historian and scholar George Rawlinson wrote: “We have reasonable grounds for regarding the Gimirri, or Cimmerians, who first appeared on the confines of Assyria and Media in the seventh century B.C., and the Sacae of the Behistun Rock, nearly two centuries later, as identical with the Beth-Khumree of Samaria, or the Ten Tribes of the House of Israel” (noted in his translation of History of Herodotus, Book VII, p. 378). Danish linguistic scholar Anne Kristensen concurs, stating: “There is scarcely reason, any longer, to doubt the exciting and verily astonishing assertion propounded by the students of the Ten Tribes that the Israelites deported from Bit Humria, of the House of ’Omri, are identical with the Gimirraja of the Assyrian sources.

Everything indicates that Israelite deportees did not vanish from the picture but that, abroad, under new conditions, they continued to leave their mark on history” (Who Were the Cimmerians, and Where Did They Come From? Sargon II, the Cimmerians, and Rusa I, translated from the Danish by Jørgen Læssøe, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, No. 57, 1988, pp. 126-127). The Bible likewise indicates that the ancient Israelites would eventually migrate in a northwesterly direction away from Jerusalem. According to a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, God’s Servant will “restore the preserved ones of Israel” ( Isaiah 49:6 ), and these peoples will come from “the north and the west” back to Jerusalem (verse 12). Archaeological evidence In addition to historical evidence, Scythian burial grounds have indicated a connection between these peoples and those of Nordic ancestry. For many years, scholars believed the Scythians were Mongols because groups of these nomadic people moved east, but the discovery of art and even a frozen corpse of a Scythian warrior indicate otherwise.

In July 2006 in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia near China and Russia, scientists made a rare find. German scientists who were part of the discovery team reported that the extremely well-preserved mummy of a Scythian warrior was that of “a 30-to-40 year-old man with blond hair” (“Ancient Mummy Found in Mongolia,” Spiegel Online International, Aug. 25, 2006). Blond hair, of course, is a characteristic of Europeans not Mongols. Prior to the discovery of this mummy, art obtained from numerous Scythian burial grounds had likewise indicated that these peoples were related to Europeans rather than Mongols. Because Scythian chiefs were buried with all their collected wealth, including wives, horses and art, detailed images of Scythians, their clothes and weapons have been uncovered. These discoveries depict their men with long, flowing locks, facial hair and Caucasian features. In conclusion, biblical, historical and archaeological evidence indicates that descendants of the so-called 10 lost tribes of ancient Israel migrated to northwestern Europe. It is more commonly understood that many peoples from these nations also settled in the United States.

For the above noted reasons, we believe that the peoples who settled in northwestern Europe and the United States are largely the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel today.

Question: In the Bible, how many 'Tribes of Israel' are there?
Answer: TWELVE